Warli Art Goes Global: Palghar’s Ramesh Hengadi Mesmerises London With Tribal Tradition

Palghar, Maharashtra: Ramesh Hengadi, a Warli artist from Bapugaon in Dahanu taluka of Maharashtra’s Palghar district, has taken the region’s rich tribal art to an international platform with a recent exhibition in London. The initiative, jointly organized by Banglanatak Dot Com and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), aims to preserve and promote folk art, folk instruments, and the traditional Warli painting style globally.
Since October 2024, MTDC, in collaboration with Axis Bank Foundation and Banglanatak Dot Com, has been working actively to protect the cultural heritage of folk arts in Palghar and Nashik districts. The project not only aims to preserve these traditional art forms but also seeks to create livelihood opportunities for over 1,000 traditional artists and artisans from rural and tribal communities.

Under this initiative, Banglanatak Dot Com has organized training workshops for nearly 400 artists, preparing them to present their work on global stages. The efforts are now yielding results with successful showcases both in India and abroad. In Palghar, the project has been active in Dahanu and Talasari talukas, while in Nashik, it has been implemented in Surgana taluka. The program supports a variety of art forms including Warli painting, Bohada mask-making, bamboo handicrafts, as well as traditional musical art forms like Tarpa, Kambade, Thakar, Sambal, Hodi, and Pavari.

Following successful performances at major festivals in Kolkata and Goa, Hengadi recently embarked on an 11-day cultural tour of London. His exhibitions and live demonstrations of Warli art were met with enthusiastic responses from Londoners.

At London’s prestigious Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Hengadi conducted live demonstrations attended by prominent personalities from the art world. Similar sessions were held at two venues in Devon city, drawing large crowds who admired the intricate and culturally rich Warli paintings. An educational program was also conducted at a local school, introducing students to this unique art form. In addition to these events, Hengadi also visited the Embassy of Nepal in London, where he presented insights into Warli traditions and ongoing efforts to preserve them.

Expressing gratitude for the support received, Hengadi acknowledged the pivotal role played by Amitava Bhattacharya, Founder-President of Banglanatak Dot Com, in facilitating this international exposure for Warli art and its artists.

The success of this initiative underscores the global appeal of India’s indigenous art forms and the importance of sustained efforts to preserve and promote them on international platforms.

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